Home Safety Tips for the Elderly
By Saghir Aslam
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
(The following information is provided solely to educate the Muslim community about investing and financial planning. It is hoped that the Ummah will benefit from this effort through greater financial empowerment, enabling the community to live in security and dignity and fulfill their religious and moral obligations towards charitable activities)
Slips and falls represent the primary source of injury for elder people. Falls are the number one cause of injury-related death for males aged 80 and older and for females aged 75 and older.
According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fall-related medical expenses cost Americans more than $30 billion each year. The CDC estimates that these expenses are projected to increase to more than $67 billion over the next 20 years. One-third of senior citizens aged 65 or older - or nearly 12 million people - experience falls each year, and almost 5,000 die from falls in the home.
The Home Safety Council study finds that while falls are the leading cause of home injury-related deaths among older adults, measures that can prevent critical falls are missing from many homes. Many caregivers of older adults cite a lack of knowledge and understanding of what actions to take in making the home safer in order to help prevent older adults from falling.
The Home Safety Council suggests that all caregivers conduct a home safety walk-through to identify and fix potential hazards. Below is a list of home safety tips that should be considered when conducting a home-safety walk-through:
- All stairs and steps should be protected with a secure banister or handrail on each side that extends the full length of the stairs. Porches, balconies, and terraces should be properly protected.
- Hallways, stairwells and porches should be well lit. Stairwell should have a bright light at the top and bottom of the stairs and at both ends of long hallways.
- Nightlights should be used to help light hallways, bathrooms and stairwells. Keep a lamp or flashlight within reach of the bed.
- Stairs, steps and all passageways should be free of clutter. Telephone and electrical cards should be kept out of walkways. Furniture should be arranged so there is plenty of room to walk freely.
- The bathtub or shower should have a nonslip mat or strips on the standing area. Grab bars should be installed around the shower, bathtub and toilet. These grab bars should be sturdy enough to support a person’s body weight.
- Set the thermostat of the water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower at prevent accidental scalding.
- All floors should be kept clean and dry. Promptly clean up grease, water, or other spills.
- Throw rugs and loose carpet should be removed or secured firmly to the floor.
- A stepladder should be used to reach items on high shelves. A good stepladder has wide treads and easy-to-grab supports.
- Telephones should be located in each room and emergency numbers posted by each one.
- Door, drawer and cabinet knobs should be big, easy-to-grab C-shaped or D-shaped handles. These handles are especially helpful for someone with arthritis.
- Use lamps that can handle 100-200-watt light bulbs. An 85-year-old needs about three times the amount of light a 15-year-old needs to see the same thing.
You should also suggest to the older adult to consider subscribing to a medical alert or buddy system. Having an easy-to-reach, easy-to-activate tool gives both the older adult and caregiver greater confidence and security.
(Saghir A. Aslam only explains strategies and formulas that he has been using. He is merely providing information, and NO ADVICE is given. Mr Aslam does not endorse or recommend any broker, brokerage firm, or any investment at all, nor does he suggest that anyone will earn a profit when or if they purchase stocks, bonds or any other investments. All stocks or investment vehicles mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. Mr Aslam is not an attorney, accountant, real estate broker, stockbroker, investment advisor, or certified financial planner. Mr Aslam does not have anything for sale.)
